Sheikh Mujib said “we are not responsible for the present state of affairs”. He said they as the majority party in the country were in favor of the National Assembly session on February 15, but Mr. Z. A. Bhutto wanted it to be deferred to the first week of March, and when it was summoned to meet today he (Bhutto) oppose it again.
The Awami League Chief regretted the stand taken by the People's Party chief on the session of the National Assembly, which was to begin today, and added although they “were ready to attend the session the use of arms was” directed at the Bengalis. He also referred to threats of PPP chief to set a fire West Pakistan if the session was not postponed.
Sheikh Mujib, in an apparent reference to West Pakistan leaders, said “If you do not want to frame one constitution let us frame our own constitution and you frame your own. Then let us see if we can live together as brothers”.
The Awami League Chief said the people of Bangla Desh freed him from jail at the cost of their lives and shed their blood in the last. “We are ready to make further sacrifices and give more blood.” He added: “You cannot suppress the Bengalis by killing 70,000,000 Bengalis.”
Sheikh Mujib said if he died his soul would be there to be happy to find the Bengalis free and that they have two square meals a day to survive. Sheikh Mujib said they did not have any grudge against the poor people of West Pakistan. They had been trying to live together for the last 23 years but West Pakistan now wanted to secede because they knew it well by now that they could not perpetuate their exploitation on them.
The Awami League leader also called upon the Press not to obey any restriction on them, if any, and if they failed to resist it they should refuse to attend their offices. He told the Press that “it is a national struggle”, and everyone's participation was essential.
